Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
UNIONS representing nearly 15 000 workers in the Lowveld sugar cane industry are up in arms with Zimbabwe’s sugar producing companies of Triangle and Hippo Valley Estates Limited over alleged unfair labour practices and have threatened collective job action if their concerns are not addressed.
The Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Industry Workers’ Union (ZISMIWU), Sugar Milling and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe (SMAWUZ) and Sugar Milling and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe (SPAMWUZ) accuse the two firms of unilateral variation of conditions of employment by allegedly arbitrarily reducing wages to US$180 monthly for the lowest paid employee.
They alleged that Triangle and Hippo Valley Estates violated provisions of the Labour Act by unilaterally withdrawing from the National Employment Council for the Sugar Milling Industry (NECSMI) with effect from September 1.
This was after the two firms on top of the alleged arbitrary reduction of wages wrote a letter to NECSMI announcing their withdrawal from the Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Industry Employers Association (ZSMIEA) with effect from the beginning of this month.
“While the national employment council has to be formed by law, by withdrawing from the employer’s organisation designated as a partner in that council, the two firms have effectively negated the council.
In a letter on August 15, 2025, Triangle and Hippo Valley Estates Limited head of people Ms Betty Chimbera announced that the withdrawal from ZSMIEA meant they had also withdrawn from NECSMI.
“The reasons for the withdrawal have been communicated to ZSMIEA. As a direct result of our withdrawal from ZSMIEA, we hereby give notice of our withdrawal from the National Employment Council for the Sugar Milling Industry of Zimbabwe with effect from September 1, 2025.
“As a result, we shall play no further role in the affairs of the NEC,’’ wrote Ms Chimbera.
“The company will only be in a position to rejoin the NEC if the circumstances that forced its withdrawal from ZSMIEA and the NEC are addressed.’’
Workers’ unions accused Tongaat of violating the law and vowed to use all available channels to challenge the move.
A statement jointly issued by the three workers unions condemned Triangle and Hippo Valley Estates for unfair labour practices and acting ultra-vires the Labour Act.
“Their (Triangle and Hippo Valley Estates Limited) communication dated August 25, outlining a unilateral reduction and variation of conditions of employment is a blatant violation of labour rights and established procedures.
“These actions were taken without following due process of obtaining the required approval from NECSMI, rendering them illegal and not permissible under law. We categorically reject these actions by the employer and warn that they cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged,’’ read the statement by the unions.
The three unions further accused Tongaat of undermining workers’ dignity and rights.
“As a way forward, we therefore call upon all members to exercise caution and restraint during this period as we continue to work round the clock to use all available legal channels to address these challenges.
“We have formally filed our grievances with the relevant labour authorities and we are pursuing dispute resolution and conciliation through the Labour office.
“We will also start mobilising collective job action if necessary, in accordance with the law.’’
ZISMIWU secretary-general Mr Faster Gono accused Triangle and Hippo Valley Estates of wanting to create three new sub-sectors for employees under the companies’ ambit which he charged would create inequality amongst employees among other problems.
He said the two firms’ bid to divide workers into the sub-sectors of security, agriculture and milling would precipitate job losses and industry decline.
If the two firms wanted to operate as a milling industry and not integrated entities they should consider surrendering agricultural land and exclusively focus on cane milling, the workers said.
